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Information Literacy Instruction Program

Information literate students "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." (ALA)

Information literacy instruction is the primary job of the User Services Librarians. It is accomplished by individual instruction and by class instruction. It is the goal of the library that 90% of graduating seniors will have participated in library instruction.

Contact a User Services Librarian to schedule a class or for further information.
Come in (Hours) OR Phone (803) 786-3703 • On-Campus ext. 3703

  • Course-specific
  • Liberal Arts 101
  • Library 100
  • English 285
  • Divergent Learning
  • and more...
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  • Individual / One-on-One
  • Resource Guides
  • and more...
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    Formal Classroom Instruction
    Undergraduate Students
    Course-specific Library instruction is available to all faculty and staff who request it. This instruction is more narrowly focused on resources within a discipline or resources supporting a particular assignment.
    Liberal Arts 101 All entering freshmen and transfer students are required to complete Liberal Arts 101 their first semester. Library instruction is integrated into this course. The exercise, written and taught by the librarians, introduces the students to the librarians and to the library's basic resources, such as how to locate a book, a scholarly journal, a magazine and a newspaper, and a high-quality website.
    Library 100 The library offers a one-credit hour course, Library 100, each spring.
    **The librarians and faculty in English, History, and Dance have worked together to create an advanced program of instruction for students majoring in these disciplines. We welcome the opportunity to work with other classes.
    English 285 English majors are required to take English 285: Bibliography and Methods of Critical Writing. The librarians design and teach the literary research methods component. The librarians and students work through an initial pathfinder together, and then the students are required to complete two additional pathfinders. The librarians correct the source content of the pathfinders.
    History 200 History majors are required to take History 200: The Historian's Craft. The librarians design and teach the literary research methods component. The librarians and students work through an initial pathfinder together, and then the students are required to complete one additional pathfinder. The librarians correct the source content of the first pathfinder.
    Graduate Students
    Divergent Learning Graduate students in the Divergent Learning program participate in a hands-on exercise designed and taught by the librarians. These students formulate search terms; search ERIC, related databases, and the Web; and learn to evaluate sources for appropriateness.
    Conflict Resolution The entering students in Conflict Resolution are introduced to the library's resources in a session during their first Saturday on campus.
    Course-specific Library instruction is available to all faculty and staff who request it. This instruction is more narrowly focused on resources within a discipline or resources supporting a particular assignment.
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    Informal Classroom Instruction
    1. In the spring and fall semesters, User Services Librarians are available to answer questions from students, faculty, and staff 56 hours each week. Hours are reduced for summer and interim periods.
    2. The Library's Subject Guides are designed to aid independent research and are divided into disciplines according to the departments on campus. Both print and electronic resources are identified, and links to searchable electronic databases and carefully selected Web pages are provided.
    3. Course guides are written point-of-use guides aimed at a particular assignment or a particular department. These guides are available at the library's reference desk or on the Resource Guides webpage.
    4. The librarians notify departments about new resources in their disciplines and invite faculty and staff to come to the library to learn how to use the resources.
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    Page last modified by Sarah Hood
    Date: 6/13/06
    [Columbia College]
    [Edens Library, Columbia South Carolina]